Never Give Up

We had an amazing Mother's Day breakfast,
worship, and great times this last week (Pictures
of our air guitar contest at the bottom).



y My friend Jeff sent me this YouTube clip and as I began to watch it (it's nearly 8 minutes long) I thought, not so great, but by the time I finished it . . . oh wow! Watch it yourself and let me know what you think.




This is a great example of what it means to "never give up!" I have so many times looked at others and thought "They'll never make it." I judge their track record and their choices and attitudes . . . well, the hard cold reality is "I GIVE UP ON PEOPLE." I trust my senses and then I forget that life, the air I breath is all a miracle process. I belong to the God of they universe and GOD never gives up on me (or you). I can give up on others. I give up on myself. But God is not like me. God never gives up.

God has said, "I will never fail you. I will never forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5)

"I have swept away your sins like a cloud, your wrongdoings like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you." (Isaiah 44:22)

Another way I was touched by the YouTube video was the incredible truth that anything good "is NEVER done solo." We are community. When I operate or think outside of God's design I'm always less and everything I could have added to life become less. The power of a team and the life, even when it seems beyond hope is witnessed by these creatures in nature.

Will I look beyond my senses when I'm tempted to give up on someone? Myself? Will I run back to those on a larger team and together believe that WE can overcome anything?

My identity is more than ME, it's US! When I dance with God (as Pastor John said so well a couple weeks ago) I realize more and more that I'm not alone and my real identity is restored.

Just for fun here's a couple pictures from our KidsWorld class this last Sunday at Portland. Watching the kids dance gave me such a joy - very deep and very good!

We also continued our theme of Rock Star by having an "Air Guitar" contest to start our Sunday off at Lakehurst's campus. How much fun!